Medieval European music (as mediated through Ben Bagby and Sequentia), Chinese guqin (Cheng Gong liang) and sizi music, Turkish folk and classical music, Japanese honkyoku shakuhachi, Bela Bartok, Erik Satie, Andrew Lawrence King, Hwang Byung Ki, Huun-Huur-Tu, Watazumido-so Roshi, Kardes Türküler, Erkan Ogur, Central Asian maqam, Kalan Müzik, Nazim Hikmet, Ohkay Owingeh, Hasteen Klah, Xi Kang, Neyzen Tevfik, Turlough O'Carolan, Zeami Motokiyo, Rainer Maria Rilke, and my brilliant and hilarious friends.
I started out first with baritone ukulele from my mom; then to flute, oboe, french horn, string bass in school groups, while learning piano. Lots of rock and roll in high school; started working with John Feodorov. Serious piano study for a few years in university (enough to not want to study any more, but falling in love with form). Began Celtic harp in 1985, switching to historical harps in 2000. Made a CD with John Feodorov as "Fishmagic" in 1999. Studied Turkish ney with Ugur Onuk in Ankara, 2004, and guqin with master Cheng Gongliang in Nanjing , 2003. Chanted with Peregrine Gregorian Ensemble (Seattle) 2004-5 while playing with Ecce Hobo (another CD with John adding Mark Reynolds and Amanda Sloan). 2005 started and directed the Summer Thunder Chinese Music Ensemble at the University of Arizona, as well as a Turkish group, "Seyyah"; a year later, a Mediterranean group, "Zamazingo." 2006-2007 worked with Harlan Hokin and the Rogue Theatre in several wonderful productions (The Dead, Endymion, the Good Woman of Sitchuan). For 2007-8 I've lived in Japan; studied koto a bit, finally finding a kinko ryu teacher of shakuhachi, Iida sensei, and studied honkyoku repertoire. I've also enjoyed playing shinobue with a kagura group at Atsuta Shrine, and spent several delightful evenings in pubs playing Irish music (on flute) with local Nagoya celeb Brian Cullen.
Since returning to Tucson I've some great performances with Summer Thunder, one for the Arizona Early Music Society "Hausmusic" series, and play guqin at the nearby 7 Cups Chinese teahouse. Happily playing with the Rogue Theatre for their fascinating production of Orlando and Immortal Longings, I've also begun playing ney (nai) with a few local musicians for the dance troupe Al Haneen under Bonnie Toland and Zafiro's able direction. I also started another middle eastern escapade with Bruce Stanley and Danielle Van Dobben, ZAMBUKA. Oh yeah, and I'm making jinaishi shakuhachi, and looking forward to playing Japanese traditional music with koto player Hiroko when she returns from Japan.
Click link above to listen to samples and order - $9.95 + s&h
Tampa Taiko is a professional drumming duo that has performed their unique style for a vast array of audiences, performing at festivals, concert halls, schools, workshops, summer camps, corporate and VIP events. Using a collection of taiko drums made by themselves from discarded wine barrels, Tampa Taiko has developed a dynamic fusion of old and new styles of drumming, bringing a contemporary vibrance to an ancient martial artform.
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